Video 5: Debt & Food Poverty

What the parties say

The Scottish Conservativeswill ‘support social enterprises [such as credit unions] through increased awareness and publicity’ (Manifesto, page 37) and say the welfare system ‘should primarily support the most vulnerable in our society, it should be flexible and personalised.’ (Manifesto, page 20)

The Scottish Greens will ‘campaign to support credit unions and local banks to create a network of accountable finance institutions’ (Manifesto, page 5) and ‘will strengthen the Scottish Welfare Fund to enable rapid decisions to be made on applications, and use newly devolved power to support people who are left without income as a result of UK benefit delays.’ (Manifesto, page 9)

Scottish Labour will ‘introduce a financial health service’ for those who fall into debt or money problems, and ‘invest in credit unions.’ (Manifesto, page 44) They will also ‘address the causes of food insecurity by campaigning for a real living wage, the end of exploitative zero-hours contracts and for a more humane approach to social security’ and ‘support community responses to food poverty.' (Manifesto, page 51)

The Scottish Liberal Democrats say a new welfare system should be: ‘Underpinned by respect for the dignity of individuals; Accessible, fair and commands the full confidence of claimants and the organisations and services that support them; Suited to the needs of people in Scotland.’ (Manifesto, page 14)

The SNP will ‘encourage and support third sector organisations, social enterprises, and credit unions to enter the market place to fill gaps in the provision of services or to offer alternatives to current providers that are not offering services people can access easily or affordably’ and will ‘publish a food sustainability plan aimed at ensuring everyone can feed themselves and their families.’ (Manifesto, page 19)